Archive for the ‘Job Interview’ Category

Non-verbal behavior in an interview

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Being called in to interview is one of the most exciting times of a candidate’s job search. You get a haircut, perhaps a manicure. You make certain your business wear is spotless, your appearance impeccable.

Warning yourself not to show fear, to keep your voice steady and your eyes on the interviewer, you believe you’re ready. After all, you have the talent to fill the position and you’ve researched the job responsibilities and company thoroughly.

Good for you. But there may be one aspect of the interview you’ve forgotten about – non-verbal behavior.

Hiring managers are trained to look for nuances in a candidate’s personality that will tell them far more than words ever could. Here’s some of the things you should watch out for:

1. Crossing your arms. Never cross your arms over your chest, it’s a defensive position. Even if you’re smiling and laughing with the recruiter or hiring manager, it’s off-putting. When standing, let your arms hang at your sides. When sitting, fold your hands in your lap and keep them there while the interviewer is speaking.
2. Tapping your fingers or a pen against the arm of your chair, your lap, a desk – whatever. Don’t do it. It shows impatience. Even if you can’t wait to jump in and tell the interviewer how great you are, retain a composed posture. Keep your fingers from dancing.
3. Shifting in your seat or from foot to foot. It makes you look nervous, which you probably are. If necessary, lock your knees while standing to keep yourself from moving too much. When you first seat yourself, make certain you’re as comfortable as you can be, given the circumstances, and then make a concentrated effort to stay just as you are. Excessive movement is distracting. You want the interviewer to notice your skills, not your fidgeting.
4. Darting eyes. If you’re constantly looking away while the interviewer is speaking or while you’re speaking, the other individual will come to one of two conclusions: you’re so bored you can’t keep focused or you’re trying to hide something. Now that doesn’t mean you stare down the interviewer. You can glance away at appropriate intervals. Just don’t do it too much.
5. Standing too close. It’s an aggressive stance and will put off an interviewer, especially if you’re a man and she’s a woman. Keep an appropriate, arm’s length distance.
6. A stony-expression or a smirk. Neither is attractive. If you have no expression, the interviewer might think you’re difficult to work with. Everyone wants to deal with a pleasant personality not a cipher. A smirk will make you seem arrogant. Even if you don’t agree with what the interviewer is saying or you believe you’re too good for the job, make certain your facial expression doesn’t reveal it.

There are many other non-verbal behaviors to consider. We deal with these at JIE (JobInterviewEdge) a coaching service for our clients. Our certified, expert editors bring decades of real-world experience and advanced degrees in 40+ industries to assist our global clientele.

We’re always striving to better our products. So if you have a recommendation for JIE, we’d love to hear from you.

A Look at Common Interview Questions an Applicant Should Prepare For

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Being invited to interview is certainly a reason to celebrate. However, for a serious candidate who wants the job, it’s only the beginning of the road to an offer.

All interviews involve questions asked by a hiring manager so s/he can determine if you’ll be a good fit with the organization. Skills, knowledge, abilities aren’t enough, especially in this highly competitive job market. You need to prove that you have the right attitude and personality to deal with the ups & downs of any job and the other employees that come with it.

What are some of the questions you might be asked?  Here’s a brief list:

1. How would you describe yourself?
2. To be successful in this career, what do you think it takes?
3. Do you have the qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for success in your chosen career?
4. Why should we hire you?
5. What are your long-range goals and objectives?
6. What  major problem have you handled recently? Did you resolve it? How?
7. What characteristics do you think make a manager successful?
8. Why did you apply to our company?
9. What do you look for in a successful candidate?
10. How do you approach critical assignments?
11. If you had to think on your feet to solve a difficult situation, what would you do?
12.  Why were you fired?
13. What are the steps you take before making an important decision?
14. Name the most difficult assignment you had and how did you finish it?
15.  What kind of supervisor do you prefer?

As you can see, the questions are open-ended, not allowing for a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. The more you talk, the more the hiring authority learns about you. That’s why you need to be prepared before you utter one word. Each answer must be crafted carefully to maximize your chances in getting hired.

At JobInterviewEdge (JIE) our highly trained and certified staff of expert coaches provides you with insight into why a hiring manager asks certain questions and what answers are most effective.

To be successful is to be prepared. That’s JIE’s major purpose.

We invite your comments on how we can improve or add to our service.

How to Avoid Interview Blunders

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

In today’s multi-media world, the face-to-face interview, with the applicant’s appearance/demeanor rehearsed and polished won’t always be the first contact the individual will have with the hiring manager. Nor will candidates always meet with one person.

Each type of interview has its pitfalls. Here’s what to avoid:

Phone Interviews:

1. Always, if possible, provide a land-line phone for the interviewer to reach you. Nothing is more irritating than a cell phone connection that hisses, crackles, cuts out, and hangs up on the interviewer. If a hiring manager gets dead air, they may not call back.
2. Make certain background noise is kept to a minimum. Keep a phone extension in a quiet place – a home office or a bedroom – away from TV noise, screeching kids and barking dogs.
3. If you’re snacking on taco chips when the phone rings, swallow quickly and don’t take another bite until the interview is over.
4. Keep a glass of water handy should your throat tickle during the interview.
5. Don’t smoke or chew gun – the noises can be heard on the other end of the line.
6. Never, ever, answer call waiting during a phone interview. Give the hiring authority your complete attention – if you don’t, you won’t move deeper into the process.

Lunch interviews:

1. Never order the most expensive item on the menu
2. Never drink alcohol
3. Don’t order ‘challenging’ food – short ribs, greasy sandwiches, and lobster come to mind
4. Don’t criticize the quality of the food or the service
5. Don’t ask for a ‘doggy bag’

Panel interviews:

1. Don’t focus on one panel member to the exclusion of all the others
2. Don’t forget to greet each panel member individually
3. Don’t forget to glance at each panel member while answering a question, after you’ve directed your opening remarks to the individual who posed the question
4. Don’t forget to send thank you notes to each panel member

There are many other situations that require forethought before you interview. Our experts at JIE (JobInterviewEdge) are practiced and certified in guiding you through the arduous interview process and helping you to avoid the common and uncommon pitfalls you’ll face. Our editors’ motto is professionalism and preparation – let their years of expertise direct you to your new career goal.

The importance of being well prepared for an interview

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Too many candidates mistakenly believe that being called in for an interview is being guaranteed a position. Nothing could be further from the truth. You might be the last person on a short list of candidates. Your skills, knowledge, and abilities are good – but not a perfect match for the company. However, the hiring manager is interested enough to meet with you and allow you to sell yourself to the company.

How do you do that? Preparation, preparation, preparation.

1. Know how to dress. If you’re not familiar with the company culture, visit their website or their offices during work hours to see how staff dress. A warning, however: Even if they wear business casual, you should err on the conservative side during the interview – for men that means a sports jacket and tie; for women, that would mean a nice pantsuit or dress. The exception to that would be if you’re in a creative field and the employees show up in jeans and T-shirts. Then, you would dress business casual. The key is to look professional – you’re not on staff yet.

2. Do extensive research about the company. Know what they’re about. Nothing’s worse for a hiring manager than to interview someone who hasn’t a clue what their company produces.

3. Compose a list of questions about the company that indicate your interest in what is produced and how things work.

4. Prepare a list of answers to the most frequently asked interview questions. For example: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

5. Practice, practice, practice. Make certain your voice and body language don’t give away your anxiety.

6. Know how long it will take to get to your interview so you arrive on time.

There are many, many more details that go into being interview ready. With our new service offering JobInterviewEdge, a certified career coach details the obstacles faced and how you can overcome them. These experts will help you prepare for the first step to your next great job – the all important first interview.

Details of the service will be provided in coming weeks. We want to hear from you as to what you’d most like to see in the service so that we can incorporate even more helpful information into it.